Coupling means for lubricating systems



June 18, 1935.l c. w. PARKER COUPLING MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Original Filed Nov. 21, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l l VEA/TOR A TTQRNEX 4.15 A1C V250 mm Nvrm mw .W mm w June 18, 1935. c. w. PARKER .COUPLING MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Original Filed Nov. 21V, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A TOR/wif June 18, 1935. Q w, PARKER 2,005,556

COUPLING MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Original Filed Nov. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED YSTATES COUPLING MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS vClark W. Parker, Brewster, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Lubrication Corpo' ration, South Bend, In

ware

d., a corporation of Dela- Application November 21, 1928, Serial No. 320,832 Renewed June 13,- 1932 24 claims. (c1. 28s-95) l positions or locations occupied by the fitting or This invention relates to the art of lubrication, and has particular reference to a coupling means attachable to a grease gun or compressor and to a fitting attached to the machinery to be lubricated, said coupling being capable of conveying the lubricant under any desired pressure from the compressor or grease gun to and through the fitting for lubricating purposes, regardless of the position of the fittings through which the machinery is lubricated, and regardless of the difculty of approach to said ttings for lubricating purposes.

In the lubricating art, and in connection with modern modes, systems and means for lubricat-` ing bearings of road vehicles and industrial machinery, it is. a great desideratum to provide a coupling including a conduit which is capable of withstanding or carrying high pressure imposed upon the lubricant without leakage from the yconduit or coupling, and without bursting the latter during the process of lubrication; and it is also quite desirable to provide a conduit and coupling means capable of angular adjustments such as to-enable them to be approached to fittings which are different of access, and to enable ready coupling by the use of one hand only to such fittings, regardless of where located.

In the light of the development of the lubricating art and the present-day requirements thereof, my invention will be better understood by stating certain objects thereof among which may be noted .the following: to -provide a conduit and coupling means capable of angular adjustments with reference to the grease gun and the fitting to which the coupling member is to be applied, which will not leak and which will withstand exceedingly high pressure; to provide a conduit, embodying an adjustable coupling, which is strong, durable, dust-proof, and has all its important structural and functional parts coveredand incapable of being tampered with, broken in use or fractured or' broken or lost by careless handling or treatment thereof; to provide a rigid conduit for use in connection with high pressure grease guns or compressors which embodies a coupling member capable of considerable angular adjustment relatively to said conduit and universally within the limits of the said angular adjustment, and which coupling, regardless of adjustment, vcan be shifted and manipulated' by means carried on the rigid conduit conveniently for manipulation by the operator, thus avoiding the necessity for entering the coupling, and also the hand, or together with the hand, into the practically inaccessible closure or grease cup applied to the end of the gland leading to the bearing or parts to be 1ubricated; to provide a coupling between a high power compressor or grease gun and a fitting or grease cup which can be readily applied to the latter, regardless of where located, by merely manipulating a remote member attached to the coupling, and which coupling embodies a plurality of strong and durablejaws adapted to engage a fitting at any point around the circumference of the latter; to provide a strong, durable and effective coupling between a grease gun and a)iitting which eliminates the use of the highly objectionable and easily destroyed bayo- -net joints, slotted couplers, and interacting pin fittings now in common use; and to provide a conduit embodying a coupling member which,

when. not in use, covers, houses and protects all the parts of the dual structure, and which, when in use, exposes only a small portion of a plurality of coupling or clamping jaws which are strong,

durable and effective for the purposes outlinedA in the foregoing.

With the above objects in view, my invention consists in the parts, feature, elements and combinations hereinafter described and' claimed, and in connection therewith other objects Will be detailed during the course of this description.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I have provided drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal, central sectional view of a structure of conduit and coupling embodying my invention, the ligure also showing an improved form of iitting'adapted for use in connection with my coupling means;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, showing the coupling member adjusted at an angle to the conduit carrying the same;

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, 6 6 and 'H l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view showing the coupling sleeve in longitudinal, central section;

'Figure 9 is an end elevation of the coupling sleeve of Figure 8;

Fig-ure 10 is a plan view of one of the clamping jaws;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the jaws shown in Figure 10; and

Figure l2 is a view in end elevation of the jaw-end of Figure'- 11.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I' indicates the hose or primary conduit and supporting member of the rigid conduit forming part of my invention, 2 is the sheath carried by and rotatable on the hose I, 3 is the actuating member carried by the sheath, 4 is the coupling member, indicates the clamping jaws.- and t indicates the fitting.

According to my invention, the conduit is rigid, in contradistinction to the common form of flexible braided metal conduits commonly in use, and my conduit is adapted for use in connection with a high power compressor or grease gun such as shown in my,.pending application Serial Number 272,921, led April 26, 1928. The inner end of the hose I is threaded externally, as at 1, for the purpose of coupling in any suitable manner with a high power grease gun such as shown in my said application. The outer end of the hose I is interiorly reduced so as to provide the small passage 8 in continuity with the large passage 9 through the hose; and said outer end of the hose is also enlarged, as at Ill, to provide a hollow, semi-spherical member the outerv surface o'f which is flattened to provide a screw-threaded area II, to which may be applied a holding ring I2 externally curved and internally grooved, as at I3, to provide a curved surface for application to a ball member I4 forming with the enlargement It and ring i2 a universal joint permitting movements, as presently described. The ring I2 is shouldered at I5 for cooperation with the angularend of the enlargement I0, and the inner surface of the ring is flattened and, threaded so as to be applied to the threaded circumference II of the enlargement I0. The said enlargement I@ and the ring I2 constitute a socket for the ball I4,

which latter is provided with a longitudinal groove I6 interacting with an'angular pin I1 to limit the movement of said ball relatively to the hose I, the s aid pin I1 being removably set in a shouldered aperture in the circumference of the enlargement I0 of the hose. When the ring I2 isgremoved from the enlargement It, the ball can be withdrawn from the socket in the enlargement I 0 and the pin Il may also be re- The sheath 2 surrounds a smooth portion of` the hose I and has its surface knurled to provide a sufficiently extensive gripping portion to enable the sheath to` be turned on the hose I. The inner end of the sheath may be flanged or enlarged, as at 23, and the outer end thereof has applied thereto the actuating member 3 adapted to shift the coupling member or sleeve 4 circumferentially of the hose enlargement III. The actuating member is secured by its tubular collar 24 to the outer end of the sheath 2 by a plurality of screws 25, and has a semi-spherical enlargement adapted to receive the hose enlargement I0 and all the parts carried thereby and the bulbous end 26 of the coupling sleeve 4 which is provided with oppositely disposed longitudinal slots 21 terminating at the inner end of said bulbous portion 26. The engagement between the actuating member 3 and the coupling sleeve 4 is provided by inturned lugs or fingers 28 sliding within thefslots 21 and tilting upon the Walls of the latter as the coupling member o r sleeve is shifted relatively to and on the joint produced on the inner end of the hose I as described. Thus, when the sheath is located upon the hose I, the actuating member 3, through the medium of its lugs or fingers 28, will rotate the coupling sleeve 4 on. and relatively to the enlargement I 0 of the hose. I have provided for a limitation of such rotary movement by setting a stop-pin 23 in the hose adjacent the inner end of the sheath 2, and cutting away the inner end of. said sheath so as to provide opposite contact shoulders 30 for engagement of saidv stop-pin, thus preventing the sheath and its actuating member 3 from turning in'either 'direction beyond said shoulders 30 or beyond the pin 29, see Figure 3.

Details of the coupling sleeve are shown in coupled to the hose I and actuated by the member 3 of the sheath 2. Therein it will be seeny that the coupling sleeve 4,' as previously noted, is provided with longitudinal slots 21 in the y bulbous inner end member 26, the inner surface of the said bulbous member being curved sufllciently to enable it to slide freely on and about the ring I2 of the hose enlargement I0. The inner surface of the sleeve 4 is provided with a fiange 3I, and between said fiange and its outer flared end 32 said sleeve is provided with an internal spiral thread 33 constituting a high speed screw. The/flared end provides` also an interior cam surface 34, the function of which will be presently noted. Cooperating with the flange 3I isa collar 35 which snugly 'ts the inner surface of the lflange and has a reducedv flangedring member 36 which engages the inner circumference vof'the flange, the said ring member being internally threaded for engagement with the threaded surface of the -socket conduit 31 centrally located in the coupling sleeve and provided at its inner end with a reduced extension 38 externally* threaded and turned into-the chamber I8 of the ball I4, a gasket 33 being held in said chamber I8 tightly against the end of the reduced extension 3l), thus making a seal between the parts. The outer end of the socket conduit is expanded to provide a camming flange 4I) located concentrically within the cam surface 34 of the flange 32 of the sleeve 4, and said outer end of the socket conduit 31 is provided with an enlarged chamber in the bottom of which is set a sealing gasket 4I. Between the inner Wall of the said chamber and the inner end of the socket conduit, a smaller chamber is provided for a ball valve 42 suitably seated in said chamber at the end thereof, and normally held seated byY the spring 43 at rest upon a transverse pin 44 extending across the valve chamber and at rest in apertures in the walls of the conduit. Thus .the valve is normally held seated; but, will yield under suilicient pressure to overcome the .ciently extensive and sturdy clamping jaws, as

I have found that they operate accurately and effectively as coupling members. The details of these clamping jaws are shown in Figures 10, ll and 12, and therein itv will be seen that the inner end of each of said jaws is turned at a right-angle to provide track members 45 adapted to travel in the screw-threads 33 of the coupler il, said track members being arranged at an angle to the body of the clamping jaws corresponding to the angle or pitch of.the screwthreads 33, thus avoiding binding within the screw-threads. The track members 45 are also provided with rounded surfaces 46 to minimize friction within the threads 33, and also to enable the clamping jaws to have a limited pivotal movement within said tracks. The inner surface l1 of each of the jaws 5 is flattened to engage the circumference of the socket conduit 31 and liesnugly thereagainst and parallel therewith; and on opposite sides of the jaws cam surfaces i8 and fill are provided, respectively adapted to engage the cam 34 of the coupling member l and the cam t@ of the socket conduit 31. Between the cam surfaces 48 and 39, and the hooked* end of the jaws, the opposite surfaces of the jaws are flattened, as indicated at 5|), for the purpose of riding against the inner wall of the member il and the extremity of the cam surface 19, respectively. The hooked end 5l of each of the jaws is inturned oppositely to 4the track member 35, and said hooked end is transversely curved, as at 52, for `the purpose of engaging snugly the circumference of the fitting li be-` tween its outer angeli and its inner ange 54; and the inner surface 55 of the hooked end 5l of the jaw is flattened so as to intimately engage the outer surface of the vflange blt of said fitting. Thus, oppositely disposed clamping jaws in the coupling member will surround a goodly portion of the circumference of the fitting between the two flanges, and will also snugly fit a goodly surface of the flange 5ft of said tting.

The outer end of the fitting is threaded, as atV blt, to enable it to be screwed into the tapped end of the entrance to the gland leading to the bearing to be lubricated; andthe inner end of the tting is internally flanged and provided with a seat for the ball-valve 51 normally held against the seat bythe expansion spring 53 at rest at its opposite end on the internal lugs 59v of the fitting. Thus, the tting is normally sealed against admission of dust, grit or other foreign substances, its attened end is adapted to snugly fit against the gasket ill in the socket of the conduit 31 and its circumference between its valved end and its flange 54, which is quite extensive. snugly flts within the socket of the conduit 31. Also, the flange 53 of the fitting is made angular so as to adapt it for engagement with a wrench for thepurpose of firmly securing it in place at the end of the lubricating gland. This fitting is, in eect, a small grease cup and is intended to be sufficiently large and have a sumciently large passage therethrough to enable it to contain a goodly supply of lubricant such as grease as usually employed.

It will also be seen that the passage through the conduit 31 is automatically and normally sealed against either the admission of grit, dirt or other foreign substance, or the passage of grease when the hose and coupler are not in use or thegrease therein is not under pressure.

`From the foregoing description, the following mode of operation will be readily understood:

My hose or conduit and coupler are adapted to be applied to any form of grease gun, regardless of whether it be high pressure or low pressure or for use by owners of cars, or for use in garages or service stations, and-in using the conduit and coupler it is directed by hand to the fitting or grease cup which is to be supplied or through which the supply is to be forced. Due to the form of the clamping jaws, a fitting is employed having the circumferential engaging flange 54 continuous and without break. This gives the clamping jaws a substantial grip or hold upon the fitting. Additionally, the fitting is provided with an extended body or neck beyond the ange 54,- atv the'end of which the ball 51 is seated, ,and within which the spring 58 is housed. Therefore, the socket of the Aconduit 31 is commensurately deep, and at the bottom thereof the gasket 4| is conned and is engaged by the end' of the fitting. The said gasket is preferably composed of a comparatively soft material which will 4compress to a slight extent, and during compression will expand radially into engagement with the walls of the socket so as to seal the junction between the socket and the fitting.. Compression of the gasket within the socket by the fitting is brought about by the engagement of the clamping jaws with the ange 5t of the fitting, when the lat-v ter has been inserted in the said socket,l the clamping `jaws being retracted, after being closed upon the flange within the coupler, by

the interaction of the spiral grooves 33 and the track members 46, when the coupler is turned by the member 3 of the sheath through the medium of the prongs 28 acting upon the walls of the slots 21 in the coupler. Thus, the coupling member is securely applied to the fitting, and the fitting is vigorously forced within the socket of the conduit'31 and there held until the lubricating process has been completed.

With the hose'applied to a compressor, the coupler can be universally adjusted circularly relatively tothe sheath member 3 to the extent permitted by the travel of the ball 14 within the hose socket l0. Such adjustments may vary from alinement of the coupler with the hose and sheath, as shown in Figure 1, to any circular position at an angle of approximately 30D between the parts, as shown in, Figure 2. This angular adjustment which is frictionally maintained, whatever it may be, enables the coupling member to be approached in approximately a. straight line to the `fitting, regardless of the position of the latter on the machinery to be lubricated or the inaccessibility of such fittings as sometimes found on industrial ma chinery and on road vehicles. feature of my invention is that the coupler can be set at an angle to the hose and sheath members and frictionally held asthus set during all subsequent operations of lubrication. This is due to the fact that the ball I4 is frictionally held in the socket members I0 and l2 tightly as desired by adjusting the latter upon the ball and relatively to the member I0. Moreover, the Ytight fit between the socket member l0 and the gasket 22 increases the friction'between the ball and socket member so that the coupler, when set at the proper angle, tends to remain there under ordinary conditions of use. The limitations imposed upon the movements of the ball 14 within the socket member l0 by the engagement of thek pin I1 with the end wall of the slot I6 of said ball prevent the gasket 22 from being shifted beyond the passage 8 through the socket member I0, thus enabling the stream of lubricant to continue its passage through the An important l ingvmovement of said jaws.

coupling member to the fitting, regardless of the angular relation of the members 3'and 4. The connection ofthe conduit 31 to the ball I4, and to the fiange 3| of the coupling member prevents the latter from being separated from the actuating member 3 of the sheath, regardless of the angular relation of the latter and -the coupler. When the sheath is rotated upon the hose, the prongs 2B of the actuating member 3 transmit motion to the coupler 4, thus causing the clamping jaws 5 to travel outwardly or inwardly according to their original position and the direction of rotation of said sheath. The rotation of the coupler thus brought about, when employed for coupling purposes, will cause the clamping jaws to slide outwardly from the coupler and simultaneously open or spread by pivoting, through the medium of their track members 46, against the walls of the spiral groove or tracks 33, and by engagement of the cam 49 of the clamping jaws against the cam 40 of the socket conduit, and, simultaneously, the cams 48 will slide over without being influenced by the cam 34, which latter offers no impediment to the outward movement or open- When the hook ends 5I of the jaws have been entered into the circumferential groove between the flanges 53 and 54 of the tting, a reverse movement of the sheath will cause its driving member to reversely move the coupler, thus causing the track members of the clamping jaws ,to reversely travel in the tracks 33 of the coupler, and withdraw within the flange 32 of the coupler and simultaneously be shifted toward each other by the action of the cam 34 upon the cam 48, which forces the hooked end of the jaws into firm gripping contact with the outer surface of the flange 54. 'Ihe continued withdrawal of the clamping jaws within the coupler 4 forces the barrel of the fitting, at its valved end, snugly into the socket of the conduit member and against the gasket 4l, thus compressing the latter, sealing the connection between the fitting and the conduit and firmly establishing the connection between the clamping jaws and the fitting. With the parts thus related, as shown in Figure 1, the compressor can be operated to force the lubricant through the passage 9 of the hose l, through the passage 8 and into the chamberof the socket member l0, through the passage I9 of the ball-joint I4, and through the socket conduit unseating the valve 42 thereof against the pressure of the spring 43, around the pin 44 on which the spring is seated, and past the ball-Valve 51 vin the fitting 6 by unseating said valve against the pressure of spring 58, the lubricant thence passing freely and without retardation through the gland to the bearing to be lubricated.

It will be seen that all the parts of my angularly adjustable coupling member are strong, durable, simple and economical to produce, and that they operate positively to engage the fitting which is so constructed as to present a gripping surface at all times to the clamping jaws, regardless of where the fitting may be or the f angular relation of the coupling member to the conduit and` its actuating parts.

It will also be seen that, when the clamping jaws are withdrawn within the coupler, they cannot be Vreadily fractured, and that the coupler itself, together with the driving member .3, is so strong, composite and the parts are so compact that they cannot be cracked or broken or fracf tured by any rough usage to which they may be subjecter in use in and around the garages or service stations.. The hose and sheath are made of any desiredvlength and, proportionally, the coupling member is short, stocky and sturdy.

It is to be noted that my conduit and coupler made the subject-of this application are particularly intended for use in connection with my high pressure grease gun made the subject of my application filed of even date herewith.

In the push-rod form of my grease gun, I have produced a compressor which is capable of exerting, in connection with my hose and coupling shown herein, five thousand pounds pressure upon the column of grease supplied to the fitting. With the compound lever form disclosed in my said concurrent application, coupled with the conduit and coupling of my present application, such pressure can be approximately doubled without the increase of energy beyond what is required for operating a pushrod form. In both instances, the mechanism of my grease gun, in addition to the automatic feed thereof, constitutes a booster, and when used in connection with my hose and coupling of this application, the lubricant is freely fed to the bearings. In fact, the passage through my present hose and coupling is exceedingly large, and with the form of fitting which I have devised to accompany the same, there is little or no retardation in the passage of lubricant, and the fitting does not become jammed because the grit and sand and other foreign substances cannot accumulate-within the chamber of the fitting in a manner to either clog the latter orv constitute an impediment to the free passage of the lubricant.

By imposing a limitation upon the movement of the actuator 3 in opposite directions, the coupler is. prevented from acting upon the clamping jaws 5 to such an extent as to drive them vso far beyond the flared end 32 as to either cause them to drop out oi' the coupler or lose engagement with the internal spiral thread 33. This is important, since the sheath cannot be indefinitely rotated on the hose or conduit l and the clamping jaws will be always maintained within the coupler and in functional engagement therewith.

It is an important feature ofv my invention to provide a close fit between the valved end of the fitting 6 and the socket in the conduit 31; for, by extending the body portion or valved end of the fitting 6 and providing the commensurate socket therefor in the conduit 31, it is possible to guide the coupling directly along the fitting as a preliminary to obtaining a gripping engagement between the clamping jaws 5 and the ange 54 of the fitting. Furthermore, the hooked ends 5I of the clamping jaws can thus be made to simultaneously engage the flange 54 for clamping action, thus making certain the coupling action as the coupler is advanced to and along the extended body of the fitting. By this construction, the fitting is made to provide a guide for the coupling member so that the latter can'accurately advance along the fitting to the fiange 54, and then upon rotation of the sheath the clamping jaws can be made to accurately engage the flange; and no angular or tilting action can be brought about between the clamping jaws and said fiange. Upon viewing Figure '1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the clamping jaws slide in and are guided by Oppositely disposed slots 55 in the socket conduit, which slots ex tend longitudinally thereof" yand prevent Y the 4clamping jaws from having any sidewise or twisting action under the impulse of the tracks This enables the hooked members 5I of the clamping jaws to engage .the flange 54 of the fitting uniformly, accuratelyand firmly as the sheath is -rotated to withdraw the clamps within the coupler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A coupling member for high pressure grease guns comprising, a hose, a rotary sheath carried thereby having an actuator, a coupler, means connecting the coupler with the hose, means connecting the coupler with the actuator for shifting the coupler, and clamping members carried by the Vcoupler and adapted to grip a fitting. v y

2. A coupling member for high pressure grease guns comprising, a conduit having'a socket at its outer end, a cylindrical-coupler having a bulbous portion surrounding the socket, means 'connecting the socket and the coupler, means Cil for rotating the coupler on and relatively to the socket, and means whereby the coupler may have universal movement onv and relatively to the socket.

3. A connection between a high pressure grease gun and a tting comprising, a conduit having a socket, a sheath mounted on the conduit and having an actuator, a coupler universally jointed to the socket, and having means interacting with the actuator, whereby the coupler may be rotated relatively to the socket.

4. A connection between a high pressure grease gun and a fitting, comprising, a conduit, a coupler, a universal joint between the conduit and coupler, means carried by the conduit for rotating the coupler, and relatively movable means carried by the coupler for gripping the fitting.

5. A coupler for high pressure grease guns comprising, a conduit, a cylindrical member, a universal joint connecting the member with the conduit, and a sheath mounted on the conduit having means for engagement with the member to rotate the same relatively to the universal joint.

6. A connection between a high pressure grease gun and a iitting comprising, a conduit, a cylindrical member universally jointed to the conduit, means between the conduit and the member. for rotating the latter, and .clamping jaws carried by the member for engaging the fitting.

7. A connection between a .high pressure grease gun anda ttihg comprising,- a conduit, a rotary sheath mounted thereon, a cylindrical member universally jointed to the conduit, a slidable connection between the sheath and said member whereby the latter may be rotated on and relatively to the universal joint, and gripping means'carried by the said member.

8. In combination with a tting having a circumferential ilange and an extended valved body, a coupler having a socket conduit mount: ed therein and having a socket at one end and a valve near the other end, the socket being adapted to receive the extended body of the fitting, and a plurality of hooked jaws carried by the coupler and movable angularly relatively to the latter for engaging the flange of the fitting.

comprising, a conduit and a coupler, a universal joint between the two, and means carried by the conduit for actuating the coupler regardless of the angle at which the latter may be relative to the conduit.

10. A connection for high pressure grease guns comprising, a conduit. and a coupler, a universal joint between thetwo, and means between the conduit and the coupler for rotating the latter regardless of the angle at which the latter may be relative to the conduit.

11. A connection for high pressure grease guns comprising, a conduit, a sheath rotatably mounted upon the conduit, a universal joint between the sheath and the conduit, a coupling member connected to the universal joint and interacting with the sheath to be rotated bythe latter and to have universal movement relatively to the sheath, and a plurality of gripping jaws carried by the coupling member and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and oscillated thereon.

l2. A connection between a high pressure grease gun and a fitting comprising, a conduit having an enlargedl socket member, a cylindrical coupling having a universal joint connectionv with the said member, means betweenr the conduit and the coupling for rotating the latter, and pivotally mounted clamping jaws carried by the coupling. l

13. A coupler for high pressure grease guns comprising, a cylindrical member having a spiral track the base of which is rounded, and a plurality of clamping jaws having their inner end correspondingly rounded and adapted to travel in the said spiral track, a conduit and means connecting the same to the lsaid cylindrical member, and means carried by the conduit for rotating the member relatively to the conduit whereby the jaws are caused to pivot on the member and move in a right-line relatively thereto.

14. lIn combination with a tting having a circumferential flange and an extended body portion carrying at its inner end a yieldable valve, a coupler having a socketed conduit rigidly mounted therein and adapted to receive the extended body portion of the fitting, and having means outstanding therefrom for engaging gripping jaws, a'plurality of gripping jaws carried by the coupler and having hooks at their outer ends for engaging the flange of the iitting, means for engaging the coupler and the socketed Y conduit for actuating the gripping jaws, a conduit to which the coupler is connected, and means carried by the conduit for actuating the coupler.

15. A connection between a high pressure grease gun and a fitting comprising, a conduit, a sleeve confined to rotation thereon, a coupling member mounted on the end of the conduit, clamping paws carried by the said member, means between the sleeve and member for rotating the latter, and means between the member and the jaws for causing the latter to travel outwardly and laterally relatively to the member to engage and grip a fitting.

16. A connection such as defined in claim 15 wherein a universal joint is provided between the end of the conduit and the coupling member, whereby the latter may have universal movement on the conduit and yet be rotated by the sleeve. 4 v

17'. A coupler for high pressure grease guns comprising, a conduit, a cylindrical member, a

universal joint between the conduit and the member, a plurality of clamping jaws carried `by the coupler, and means between the jaws and the coupler whereby the jaws may be given right-line reciprocations within and relatively to the coupler and oscillatory movements within and relatively to the coupler.

18. A lubricant discharge nozzle for servicing a lubricant receiving fitting comprising, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of lubricant supply, a casing fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit, a plurality of rigid clamping jaws disposed within said casing for engagement with said fitting, the inner and opposed walls of the jaws receding inwardly rearwardly of the outer ends of the jaws and each provided with surfaces engaged with adjacent guide surfaces formed on the inner' wall of said casing, and means for producing relative movement between said jaws collectively and said casing whereby the jaws may be forced radially toward and into clamping engagement with said fitting through the medium of said guide surfaces on said casing clampingly to engage said fitting.

19. A connector for pressure lubricators comprising a conduit adapted for connection with a source of lubricant supply, a casing fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit and terminating at its outer end in a camming surface, a member coaxially mounted with respect to said casing, rigid clamping jaws mounted in secure but unfastened relationship bef tween said member and said casing for radial swinging movements and having a portion adapted to engage said camming surface, said jaws being adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the axis of said casing and relative to said conduit to engage said portion with said camming surface for forcing said jaws to swing bodily about a pivot point to bring their outer ends radially toward and into clamping engagement with a fitting, and sealing means carried by said member against which the fitting is adapted to press when held by said clamping jaws.

20. A lubricant discharge nozzle and coupler for servicing a lubricant receiving fitting comprising, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of lubricant supply, a casing xed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit, cam guide surfaces formed on the inner wall of said casing at the outer end thereof, a plurality of rigid and inflexible clamp jaws mounted in unfastened but confined relationship within said casing for bodily swinging movements whereby their outer ends may be moved radially into and out of engagement with said fitting when the fitting is disposed within the jaws, said jaws being provided with cam surfaces engageable with said cam guide surfaces formed on the inner wall of said casing, and means for producing relative movements between said jaws collectively and said casing and said conduit whereby the outer ends of the jaws may be forced radially toward and into clamping engagement with said fitting through the medium of said guide surfaces, whereby clampingly to engage said fitting.

21. A lubricant dischargenozzle and coupler for vservicing a lubricant receiving fitting comprising, a conduit adapted for .connection with a source of lubricant supply, acasing fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit, a plurality of rigid and inflexible clamping jaws arranged in unfastened but confined relationship annularly about the interior of said casing and mounted adjacent their inner ends within said casing for bodily swinging movements of their outer ends radially of the casing for engagement with said fitting, said clamping jaws and said casing having cooperative camming surfaces formed thereon toward their outer ends, and means for producing relative longitudinal movement between said jaws collectively and said casing and said conduit whereby the jaws may be forced radially toward and into clamping engagement with said fitting through the medium of said camming surfaces whereby clampingly to engage said fitting.

22. A coupler for pressure lubricators comprising, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of lubricant supply, a casing fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit and terminating at its outer end in a camming surface, a tubular member co-axially mounted with respect to said casing and within the confines of the casing, a plurality of rigid clamping jaws independently retained in annular array and at relatively fixed distances apart from one another between adjacent surfaces of said casing and said member, said jaws being in unfastened relationship with respect to said casing and said member and capable of collective bodily shifting upon movement thereof relative to the camming surface of the casing, thereby to cause the jaws to move into clamping engagement with a fitting, means forming a lubricant connection between said conduit and said inner member, and sealing means carried by said lnner member against which the fitting is adapted to press when held by said clamping jaws.

23. A coupler for servicing pressure fed lubricant receiving fittings comprising, a conduit adapted for connection to a source of lubricant supply, a casing fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said conduit, a core having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough located within said casing substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof and cooperating with the casing to provide a space therebetween adjacent to the outer end of the casing, fitting engaging sealing means on said core surrounding the discharge orifice of said passageway, means including a packing gasket establishing a lubricant-tight seal between said conduit and the inlet of said passageway, and means operable, upon relative movement between said casing and said core, clampingly to engage a fitting when said fitting is in register with said sealing means, said clamping means including a plurality of rigid fitting engaging jaws located within said space between said casing and said core and freely engaging the outer wall of the core, a cam surface on the inner Wall of said casiing at the outer end thereof and fitting engaging portions formed at the outer ends oi." said Jaws.

24. A connector for pressure fed lubricant fittings comprising, a conduit adapted at one end for connection with a source of lubricant supply, a lubricant conducting member associated with the other end of said conduit, said conducting member having a lubricant passageway therethrough for the passage of lubricant from the conduit to a fitting, a ,casing member surrounding said conducting member and spaced from said conducting member at the outer end of said conducting member, said casing member being; secured against longitudinal movements relative to said conduit member, a plurality of tting engaging jaws disposed in annular and unfastened array in the space provided between said casing and conducting members, said jaws and one of said members having interengaging means for retaininig the jaws against displacement from said space, a cam surface formed on the outerv portion of said casing member, and

a cam surface formed on each of said jaws for engagement with the cam surface on said casing member whereby to force said jaws into clamping engagement with a tting upon relative movements in one direction between said cam surfaces.

CLARK W. PARKER. 

